Tunneled island flaps in facial defects reconstruction

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Dermatologic Surgery

Background:

• Facial defect reconstruction presents significant challenges for dermatologic surgeons.
• Traditional methods may require multiple stages or result in visible scarring.

Observation:

• Three distinct cases involving facial defects were successfully treated using tunneled island flaps.
• Defects included wide areas of the nasal dorsum and ala, as well as the medial canthus.

Findings:

• Nasolabial island flaps tunneled via the lateral nose repaired nasal defects in two cases.
• A tunneled island glabellar flap reconstructed the medial canthus in the third case.
• Despite challenges like pedicle dissection and potential trapdoor deformation, this single-stage procedure achieved defect reconstruction.

Implications:

• Tunneled island flaps provide a viable single-stage option for extensive facial defect repair.
• This technique aids in scar camouflage within cosmetic unit boundaries.
• Preservation of central facial symmetry is a key benefit of this reconstructive approach.